Home From My Heart The Past

The Past

It is with simple earnestness that I write this next issue of From My Heart.
I want to share with you something I have learned about God’s forgiveness and cleansing.

Sometimes in life when I have sinned and fallen so short of what I should be in Christ, the temptation comes to get discouraged. “I have  messed up again!” But you know what? I continue to feel this way as long as I am focused on self. Instead I must go back to His Word and remember what He has already done for me on the cross!

Our enemy, Satan, would like to remind us of the past, of our sin. He uses guilt so craftily. He does this because it keeps us weak, steals our joy, and keeps us in bondage to sin. To dwell on the past and live with guilt is not trusting or depending on God. It is basically saying to God, “Your Son’s Blood was not enough!” But the truth is, IT IS ENOUGH! Jesus’ blood is enough to cover allllll our sin.

  1. I have found that dwelling on the past keeps us from loving and serving God fully.
  2. It will hurt others whom we do not intend to hurt. 
  3. It will continue to hurt us.
  4. It grieves Him.

Sometimes we just have to admit we have sinned by not trusting Him. Then in faith, we must accept His forgiveness, and let go of the past. Trusting His word is so important. “As far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed our transgressions.” (Psalms 103:12)

I remember that Christ saw a restored relationship with us as “joy”, …who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame… (Hebrews 12:2).  We were worth His agony on the cross…worth having His Father pour out His anger on Him and forsake Him.
He… became sin for us.
– II Corinthians 5:21We were worth His all…Is there anything too hard for Him to do in our lives?

Trusting Him and daily being in His Word has been for me a great source of strength. It helps me to accept consequences of the past, to rest in His love each day, to serve with joy because of the righteousness I have in Him, and to hope in the work He will continue to do!

“…where sin abounded grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20)

What about you? Are you free from the past?